Can you see what I see…?

Life’s been rather hectic of late, so my posts have been more sporadic than usual, but today I want to show you something that I think is quite wonderful. And no, I’m not going to tell you, I’m going to show you.

Have a look at these three screenshots and tell me what you see:

Yes, all three screenshots are computer generated. And yes, they are all from a game, but the amazing thing is the mirror.

I’ve been playing games of one sort or another for close to 20 years, and in all that time I’ve never seen a mirror used in any game I’ve ever played. Now, it may be that I’ve played the wrong sort of games, or it may be that mirrors use up too many resources, or… Whatever the reason, mirrors haven’t been a part of the graphics, and I have always felt the lack.

Reflections are such a fundamental part of how we see the world, and ourselves. Think about it. We catch sight of our reflection a hundred times a day – in mirrors, shop windows, highly polished tables, glossy cupboards, ponds, even spoons. They are everywhere in the real world, but not in the virtual world, and to me it feels odd. Like not having a shadow.

Remember when gaming graphics were so primitive that no one even dreamed of adding shadows? Now they’re commonplace in most games with high end graphics. I predict that one day soon, reflections will become just as commonplace as shadows because they add an almost subliminal element to our ability to immerse ourselves in a virtual environment.

For now, though, my friend George is the trail blazer in this area. The mirror is his, as is the game, and I think both are going to be quite extraordinary.

cheers

Meeks

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About acflory

I am the kind of person who always has to know why things are the way they are so my interests range from genetics and biology to politics and what makes people tick.
For fun I play online mmorpgs, read, listen to a music, dance when I get the chance and landscape my rather large block.
Work is writing. When a story I am working on is going well I'm on cloud nine. On bad days I go out and dig big holes...
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17 responses to “Can you see what I see…?”

I’ve never thought about mirrors in games and animation. It’s amazing to me how far and real some computer generated images are. I can’t wait to see what happens with entertainment in the next 30 years. 🙂

A game we’re playing now has shadows that are actually used to in certain puzzles. The sun and moon actually move across the sky, there are phases of the moon, and there’s weather that affects game play. These are not the main part of the game, but they do add to the immersion.

So very different from the first game in the same series I played back in the 80s where the character was basically a green square you moved around.

Oh now this is interesting! Which game???
Final Fantasy XIV has shadows, weather and time of day but I’ve only come across those elements used in some of the high end gathering. And yes, the quality of the light during different parts of the day and the weather effects are some of the most beautiful aspects of the game, at least for me. 🙂

Yes! And not just to the action. The mmo I’m playing at the moment has a very strong storyline that’s integral to the game. I could easily see a reflection of some sort providing a view of something, or perhaps just a hint of something that could be expanded on later.

You reeeeally liked that mirror. I was more impressed by how the wall can catch light from the environment than the mirror 😀
If you walk close to it while your character catches bright light from the window, it reflects on the wall.